City of Garland Municipal Updates

August 1, 2014 – There are a few announcements for Garland residents regarding water restrictions, recycling, and construction updates.

Water Supply Update

We are still at Stage 3 and any rumors that any member city of the North Texas Municipal Water District is now at Stage 4 is false. We are all at Stage 3 and will probably remain there for some time, unless we’re blessed with a rainfall of biblical pro

Proportions. Our present Stage 3 Water Restrictions allow operation of sprinkler systems on the every other week on recycle pick-up days. Hand held hoses and soaker hoses are permitted anytime.

Lake Texoma water is now being pumped directly into the treatment plant, as it must be blended 4 to 1 with other lake water due to its salt content. New legislation has made it possible to pump the Texoma water over state lines. It had formerly been prohibited due to the zebra mussel infestation.

There’s dredging going on at Lake Lavon, where lake levels are at an all-time low.  Recent rains did improve things at Lake Cooper, which had water levels that were so low the lake wa about to go off-line. The NTMWD does not pump from Lake Ray Hubbard, which serves Dallas.

For the latest on our area lake levels go online to: www.nttmwd.com

Recycle Bins

The City of Garland is slowly phasing in the new automated recycling system. The City has been divided into districts and they’re beginning to distribute the large blue recycle bins in District 3. The automated pick-up truck will soon be collecting recyclable goods in that district. District 5 will receive their new blue bins in 2016. The process has been slowed down by budget restraints. Glenna Brown, director of Garland’s Environmental Waste Services assured us that dilapidated red baskets will be replaced upon request in those districts awaiting automation.

Road and Street repaving projects

Street and road maintenance in the City of Garland have fallen behind in past years due to the decrease in home values, which resulted in a diminished tax base and funding source. We are now in a recovery mode, and trying to catch-up on much needed repairs and repaving. At a recent Garland City Council work session, it was disclosed that the City of Garland has outsourced equipment and labor for the repaving of main arteries, and is using city labor and equipment for residential streets. It was added that this strategy keeps congestion of major arteries to a minimum.

The new Centerville ext on I-635 is finally reaching completion, and Texas DOT has scheduled a ribbon cutting for the new service road that extends from Centerville to Northwest Highway on August 18. Businesses along the corridor will be greatly relieved to see this 2 year project finally completed and barricades removed.